2026 - 2030 Strategic Plan, Mission, Vision and Values
A Message from our Leadership:
On behalf of the Board of Health and our leadership team, we are proud to share the 2026–2030 Strategic Plan for the Middlesex-London Health Unit. This plan will guide our work as we continue to support the health and well-being of our community over the next several years. The last few years have brought unprecedented challenges: a global pandemic, rapid population growth, increasing complexity in our social and natural environments, and evolving expectations for public health. These experiences have highlighted three key lessons for us:
- The health of our community depends not only on the services we provide, but also on strong, meaningful collaboration with the community to ensure our programs are inclusive and responsive – especially for those who need them most.
- Our staff are at the heart of everything we do. Supporting their well-being and fostering a resilient, thriving workforce is essential as we navigate a rapidly changing public health landscape.
- To have the greatest impact, we must modernize and adapt – leveraging technology, enhancing our systems, and continuously improving how we deliver public health services.
On behalf of the Board of Health and our leadership team, we are proud to share the 2026–2030 Strategic Plan for the Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU). This plan will guide our work as we continue to support the health and well-being of our community over the next several years.
The last few years have brought unprecedented challenges: a global pandemic, rapid population growth, increasing complexity in our social and natural environments, and evolving expectations for public health. These experiences have highlighted three key lessons for us:
- The health of our community depends not only on the services we provide, but also on strong, meaningful collaboration with the community to ensure our programs are inclusive and responsive – especially for those who need them most.
- Our staff are at the heart of everything we do. Supporting their well-being and fostering a resilient, thriving workforce is essential as we navigate a rapidly changing public health landscape.
- To have the greatest impact, we must modernize and adapt – leveraging technology, enhancing our systems, and continuously improving how we deliver public health services.
To ensure our new strategic plan reflected the diverse voices and needs of our community, we identified key interested parties of the Middlesex-London Health Unit, including staff, Board of Health members, representatives of prioritized population groups, community partners, clients and community members. We engaged with people in many ways - through individual conversations, small group discussions, and surveys - to ensure a wide range of voices and experiences informed this work. In addition to hearing directly from the community, we drew on recent and in-depth research and insights to better understand local needs, identify gaps and opportunities, and explore emerging trends that will shape public health in the years ahead.
This strategic plan provides a clear framework to guide our efforts in advancing health equity, strengthening our workforce, and modernizing public health services. It will help us focus our resources, track progress, and ensure our actions align with the outcomes that matter most to the people of Middlesex-London.
We sincerely thank everyone who contributed their time, insights, and ideas to this plan. We are excited to work together over the coming years to make measurable progress toward a healthier, more equitable Middlesex-London – where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Mike Steele
2025 Chair, Board of Health
Dr. Alexander Summers
Medical Officer of Health
Middlesex-London Health Unit
Emily Williams
Chief Executive Officer
Middlesex-London Health Unit
The Middlesex-London Health Unit is committed to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and communities.
We acknowledge our obligation to work in partnership with local First Nations and urban Indigenous led organizations to improve the health of Indigenous people in our region and are committed to taking action to bring about change. We will continue to build staff capacity to deliver culturally safe services, cultivate equitable and productive relationships with Indigenous partners, disrupt colonial practices within and outside our organization, and build an organizational culture of humility and accountability through ongoing learning, thoughtful policy, and practice that is informed by multiple evidence sources including the knowledge and wisdom of Indigenous partners and community members.
We acknowledge that the Middlesex-London Health Unit is on Indigenous land that has been inhabited by Indigenous peoples for thousands of years. First Nations have a deep-rooted connection to the lands they steward which are integral to their culture, identity and health. The three First Nations communities closest in proximity to Middlesex County and the City of London are: Chippewa of the Thames First Nation (part of the Anishinaabe); Oneida Nation of the Thames (part of the Haudenosaunee); and, Munsee-Delaware Nation (part of the Leni-Lunaape).
The Middlesex-London Health Unit is one of 29 public health units in Ontario. Through the delivery of mandated public health services, guided by the Ontario Public Health Standards and overseen by the Middlesex-London Board of Health, the Middlesex-London Health Unit plays a critical role in protecting and promoting health within Middlesex County and the City of London.
The work of the Health Unit is diverse, unified by a population health approach focused on prevention, upstream interventions, and addressing the social and structural determinants that influence the health of Middlesex-London. When making decisions and doing our work, we focus on the health of the whole community, striving to create conditions where everyone can thrive.
The key programs and services offered by MLHU include:
- Infectious Disease Control: including case and contact and outbreak management, sexual health clinics, and investigation of reported animal bites.
- Immunization: including community- and school-based immunization clinics, promotion of vaccination, and monitoring of vaccination rates.
- Oral Health: including oral health screening in schools, and provision of dental care for eligible seniors and youth.
- Environmental Health: including inspection and monitoring of food establishments, water quality, environmental hazard investigation, tobacco enforcement, and control of vector-borne diseases.
- Comprehensive Health Promotion: is aimed at promoting population health, including anti-smoking and vaping campaigns, addressing substance use, nutrition and food accessibility, and healthy public policy initiatives.
- Emergency Preparedness: including planning for and responding to public health emergencies, including pandemics and environmental hazards.
- Early Childhood Development: including home-visiting programs and classes for pregnant individuals and new parents, and prenatal education.
- Population Health Assessment and Surveillance: including ongoing monitoring and communication of health risks and outcomes.
Strategic Plan 2026-2030 video series
Healthy people. Thriving community.
- Strategic Plan 2026 – 2030: Mission & Vision
- Strategic Plan 2026 – 2030: Values
- Strategic Plan 2026 – 2030: Serve Our Community
- Strategic Plan 2026 – 2030: Support Our People
- Strategic Plan 2026 – 2030: Strengthen Our Performance
Vision
Healthy people. Thriving community.
Mission
To protect and promote the health of Middlesex-London.
Values
Collaboration
We work together with others – inside and outside our organization – by including diverse voices, building partnerships that are rooted in trust, and working toward shared goals.
Integrity
We act with honesty, courage, consistency, and fairness. We follow through on our commitments and earn trust by doing what is right, even when it’s difficult.
Equity
We actively work to reduce health inequities by addressing racism, colonialism, and other systems of oppression.
Respect
We show respect by treating everyone with kindness, listening with care, and valuing each person’s voice and lived experience. We aim to create a safe, inclusive environment where all are accountable to one another.
Excellence
We strive to do our best through continuous learning, finding better ways to work, and making sure we meet the changing needs of the people we serve.
Strategic Priorities
Serve Our Community
Support Our People
Strengthen Our Performance
Strategic Priority One: Serve Our Community
The Middlesex-London region is growing and changing. Since 2016, the population of Middlesex-London has risen from 455,526 to 585,485 in 2025, outpacing the growth of the rest of Ontario. However, many residents, particularly Indigenous peoples and equity-deserving communities, continue to experience the impacts of systemic racism, poverty, and housing insecurity. At the same time, new health threats - such as climate-related emergencies, infectious disease outbreaks and increasing substance use - are emerging faster than ever. Addressing these complex challenges requires thoughtful, collaborative, and equitable approaches.
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Transform the planning, development and delivery of our services with equity-deserving populations to be more collaborative and inclusive.
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Amplify our voice as a trusted source of health expertise in our community.
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Enhance our ability to describe the health of Middlesex-London.
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Strengthen organizational and community readiness to respond to public health emergencies and threats.
Strategic Priority Two: Support Our People
Our experienced and passionate staff are at the core of our work - their dedication makes it possible to serve our community every day. As our community’s needs grow and change, supporting our staff is more important than ever to ensure they can continue their vital work. We are committed to fostering a workplace that promotes wellness and professional growth. We strive to create an inclusive and respectful workplace where everyone, particularly employees from equity-deserving populations, feel valued and empowered.
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Support the resilience and wellness of our people in an ever-changing environment.
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Advance anti-racism and inclusion in our workplace.
Strategic Priority Three: Strengthen Our Performance
We are committed to doing our best for our community by making our services more responsive and effective. By investing in data and technology, we will enable more coordinated, data-driven decision-making which will lead to improved outcomes and operational efficiencies. Through advancing continuous improvement and innovation, we can deliver high-quality services where and when they are needed most. We’re focused on building a public health system that is adaptable, innovative, and ready to respond to whatever the future holds.
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Adopt technological solutions, streamline systems, and foster a data-informed culture.
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Develop capacity in quality improvement.